Automatic valve.



H. c. @L s. GUSTAFSUN.

AUTOMATIC VALVE.

APPLICATIGN FILED FEB.5,1917.

Patentd Dec. 4, 1917. Y

2 SHEETS-SHEET l H. C. vL S. GUSTAFSON. AuoMAlc VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5. |917.

Patented DBG. 4, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

4i fr AUTOMATIC VALVE.

miento.

Application filed February 5, 1917.

The present invention is directed to im!- provements in automatic valves, and4 more particularly to that type designed for use in Hushing tanks for water closets.

The invention has for its object to provide a` device of this character constructed in such a manner that the same will operate `to cut-olf the supply to the tank without the objectionable hissing7 now prevalent in devices of thislkind.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve of this .type which is eX- ceedingly simple in construction and noiseless in operation.

A still further object of the vinvention .is to provide a device of this character which consists of a minimum number of compactly related parts which can be conveniently assembled or disassembled.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a valve of this nature which is durable, and can be manufactured at a minimum cost. f

With these and other objects of "similar nature in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

lin the drawings Figurel is a side elevation of thedevice, partly in section, and showing the same mounted withinthe conventional form of Hush tank.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical central sectional view through the device, showing the same in its open position. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary central sectional View through a slightly modified form of the invention, the same being shown in full lines in its closed position.

Fig. 4L is a detail View of the valve stem.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates a casing consisting of upper and lower sections 2 and 3, respectively. l'lhe section 3 has its upper end formed with a comparatively shallow circular seat 11 which receives the lower end. of the section 2, whereby the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 11e-c.. A, 1917..

Serial No. 146,589.

sections may be readily engaged or disengaged, and held in clamped engagement by the bolts 5. 4 Depending from the top 6- of the section 2 is a tubular guide 7, and since said guide depends into the section, an annular pressure chamber 8 is produce/d, the purpose of which will appear later. A bridge-piece 9 is provided and extendsfrom the guide 7 to the wall of the section 2, said bridgepiece having port 10 formed longitudinally therein, the inner end of which is in communication with the bore 11 of the guide, while the -outer end thereof opens through the wall of the section 2. A

Suitably securedin the outer end ofthe port 10 is the inner end ofthe curved pipe 12, which terminates in a vertical section 13,

which empties into the tank 12.

Spaced ears 14 are formed upon the top .of the section 2, and pivotally connected between said ears is one end ofthe float arm 15. Movable in-the bore 11 of the guide 7 is a stem 16, the upper end ofwhich has threaded thereon a head 17, said liead having a slot 18 for engagement with the float arm 15. Thus it will be seen that as the float arm rises and falls that the'stem will be moved vertically in the bore 11 in an obvious and Vwell known manner. f,

Also mounted on the top 6' is a lug 19 having a socket 20 formed therein for receivlng the coil spring 21, which encircles the stem 22 of the valve 23, said stem Ahavlng a head 24e-on its upper end adapted to bear upo\n the upper end of the spring 21,

while the lower end of said spring rests upon the bottom of the socket .20. The spring 21 is of such size thatthe head 24C is normally extended from the socket 20 so as tobe engaged by the arm 15 as said arm swings downwardly during the iushing of the tank 12. It is of course obvious that the'head 24 will continue to move down-' wardlyl until the arm 15 engages the top of lthe lug 19, and lat which time the spring 21 will be compressed, the purpose of which will appear later.

Formed interiorly of the top 6 is a seat 25, said seat having opening thereinto a passage 26, which affords communication `between the chamber 8 and socket 20, 'and also accommodates the stem 22. The spring 21 normally tends to holdthe valve 23 engaged with the seat 25. Formed. in the wall of the lug 19 is a port 27 through which air from the outside is admitted to the chamber 8 when the valve 23 is unseated.

The seat 4 is formed with a recess 28, said recess having its base 29 formed with a plurality of ports 30 which open into the annular chamber 31 formed in the section 3. 1t will be noted that in the preferred form of the invention that the inlet ipe 32 eX- tends through the chamber 31 andihasV its upper end extended above the plane of lthe base 29, thus constituting a seat 32 for cooperation with-the valve disk 33, which iS .preferably formed from rubber, and has its edge clamped between the sections 2 and 3, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

Secured centrally of the disk 33 is a plug 34, said plug having a fluid passage formed therein to perlnit water from the pipe 32 to pass into the chamber 8. Depending from the section is a tank filling pipe 36, which communicates with the chamber 31, and empties into the tank 12.

Leading from the chamber 31 is a pipe 37, which has its upper end curved so as to discharge into the upper end of the usual overflow pipe 38.

The tankl 12 is equipped with the usual form of plug valve 39, which is operated inany well known manner when it is desired lto flush the closet bowl.

The lower end of the guide 7 -is spaced fromthe seat 4, and is counterbored to form a. Casing 40, the upper end of which is provided with a seat 41. The stem 16 is pro- .Vided with a reduced extension 42 upon which is mounted a flexible valve 43, said valve being retained on the extension by the cap 44, said cap having an annular seat 45 carried thereby for engagement with the disk valve 33 when the same is in its open position, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of 'the drawing. By providing the reduced extension 42 water is permitted to pass into the port 10, and from thence to the pipe 13.. The

. casing 40 is provided with vertically spaced ports 46 and 47, one of` which is always closed by the valve 43.

' In the modified form of the invention, as shown in Fig. 3, the valve disk 33 is loosely mounted on the seat and is capable of limited vertical movement due to the factthat its edge is free. To hold the disk in proper. shape and in a rigid condition a metal washer 48 is placed'thereon. It will be noted in this instance that the edge of the disk 433 is so associated with the wall of the seat 4 and lower edge of the section 2 that water will be prevented from pass- 1ng around'the edge of said disk. They op- -eration and function" or' the disk 33 in this form is otherwise the same as in the preferred form of the invention.

As shown irl-Fig. 2, the flushing .action 1s in progress, and the float arm 15 falls in will be of course understood that the disk 33 engages the seat 43 formed by the lower 'end of the casing 40 onlyafter the seat 45 has been drawn into the casing 40 by the upward movement of the stem 1G. Valve 43 also closes the port 47, thus completely cutting ofi' the chamber 8 from a new supply of water from the inlet pipe 32. Wa ter from the chamber now liows through the port 46 and is discharged through the pipe 13 in anobvious manner. The water from the pipe 32 now liows under the disk 33. through ports 30 into the chamber 31, and from thence out of the discharge pipe 3G into the tank 12. l

It will be noted that an appreciable amount of Vwater also flows upwardly in the refill pipe 37. By means of the air valve 22B air is admitted to the chamber 8 to prevent any vacuum forming so that all of the wa ter will be positively discharged through the pipe 13, whose discharge end is disposed below the disk 33. Therefore all water to the level of port 46 will siphon out. lVater continues to flow into the tank 12 until it starts to raise the i'loat 49. However, previous to the positive closing of the valve the float 49 rises suli'iciently to permit the valve 23 to seat, and further upward movement of the float causes the valve 43 to. close port 4G and engage the seat 41. lVater now flows through the passage 35 and thence through port 47 into the chamber 8. This operation continues until a suiiicient air pressure has been built up in the chamber 8 to force the. disk 33 to engage the seat 32', and against the pressure of the incoming water supply. This is possibledue to the ditference in area between. the disk 33 and the seat 32. 4The valve operates without noise due to the tact that the air pressure above the water in the chamber 8 acts as a cushion to prevent the objectionable noise in the pipes due to l 1. A valve of the class described compris- Aing a casing having combined watervand `air pressure chamber, a seat within the chamber, means for discharging Water from the chamber, and float operated means for admitting a fresh supplyy of air to the chamber during the discharging operation, Asaid valve serving to control the ingress and egress of water from a main supply to and from the chamber. 1

3. A valve of the class described comprising a casing having a combined Water and air pressure chamber, a water inlet pipe extending into the chamber and having a Seat, an outlet pipe leading from the casing, a valve-within the casin normally engaged withthe seat, means for discharging the water from the chamber to release the pressure therein to permit the valv'e to unseat,I

.whereby water from the inlet pipe flows to the outlet pipe, and float operated means for admitting a fresh supply of air to the chamber during the discharging operation.

4. A valve of theclass described comprising a casing having a combined water and air pressure chamber, a water inlet pipe connected with the casing and having a seat on its upper end, an outlet pipe leading from the casing, a valve normally engaged with the seat, said valve having a passage therethrough topermit water to flow into the chamber to build up air pressure therein,

said valve being held seated by the combined water and air pressure within the chamber, means for discharging the water from the chamber preceding the unseating of the valve, said valve controlling the passage of the water from the inlet pipe to the outlet pipe, and float operated means for admitting a fresh supply of air to the chamber during the discharging operation. n

5. A valve of the class described comprising a casing having a combined water and air pressure chamber, an inlet pipe extended into the chamber, the upper end of said pipe constituting a seat, a flexible valve. disk mounted in the casing and normally engaged with the seat, said valve having a water passage formed therein, a second valve operable in the chamber and normally disengaged from the first named valve, said second named valve having a seat carried thereby,` means for actuating the second named valve to discharge the water from the chamber, the first named valve being adapted to engage the second named seat to prevent water from passing through said passage to the chamber during the discharging operation, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. A valve of the class described comprising a casing having a combined water and air pressure chamber, a flexible disk valve mounted in the chamber, a water inlet pipe extended into the chamber and having a seat for normally engaging said valve, a second valve reciprocally mounted in the. chamber and operable to discharge the water therefrom, and being normally disengaged from the first named valve, said-valve having a seat associated therewith for engaging the first named valve previous to and during the discharging operation, there being an outlet pipe from the chamber for discharging water from the inlet pipe when the second named seat is engaged with the first named valve.

7. A valve of the class described comprising a casing having a combined water and air pressure chamber, a fixed valve seat located in-the chamber, a mov( ble valve seat also located in the chamber, a 7alve normally engaged with the fixed seat, means for discharging the water from the chamber, the

described compris-` lfllfli bined water and air pressure chamber, an

air valve carried by the casing, a second valve operable in the chamber, said`valves being operable by the fioat arm to respectively admit air to the chamber and to cause the water to discharge from the chamber.

9. A valve of the class described comprising a casing having a combined water and air pressure chamber, a float arm pivotally connected with the casing, a tubular guide depending into the chamber and having a casing on its lower end provided with ports, a 'stem mounted for vertical movement in the guide, a valve on the lower end of the stem and operable in the second named casing, a seat associated with the valve, a disk named seat when in its lowermost position i being adapted to engage the disk valve to close the passage therein, whereby all water flowing from the inlet pipe will be compelled toflow to and from the outlet pipe, and an air valve associated with the easing and operable by the downward movement of the float arm to admit a fresh supply of air to the chamber.

l0. A valve of the class described, in combination with a tank, said f'alve comprising a casing having a combined water and air pressure chamber, a tubular guide depending into the chamber, said guide having a easing formed at its lower end'and provided with ports, a stem for the guide, a valve on the lower end of the stem for operation in the second named casing, with said valve, an inlet pipe extended into the chamber and having a seat on its upper end, a disk valve mounted in the chamber and normally engaged with the second named seat, said 'disk valve having a water passage formed therein, a float arm conneeted with t-he Casing for moving the stem downwardly When the tank is discharging, whereby one of said ports is uncovered by the first named valve to cause water within the chamber to pass through the guide into the tank, said disk valve being engaged with the irst named seat to elose said passage, whereby all Water from the inlet pipe will be directed tothe tank, and means operable by the arm to admit a fresh supply of air a seat associatedv to the chamber, as and for the purpose set forth.

11. T he combination with a tank having a water inlet pipe, of a valve comprising a casing having a. water and air receiving chamber, the upper end of said inlet pipe being connected with the casing and extended into the chamber and constituting a valve seat, a valve normally engaged with the seat, a second valve located in the easing, means for transferring water from one side of the first nalned valve to the other side, a 'float arm associated with the easing for acti1- ating the second nalned valve for cutting olf the flow of water through the transferring means, means for conducting water from the inlet pipe to the tank, means for discharging water from the chamber, and means op* erable b v the fioat arm for admitting fresh air to the chamber to cause the water within the chamber to discharge therefrom to the tank, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HJALMER C. GUSTAFSON. SVEN GUSTAFSON. Witnesses:

HAROLD F. GUs'rAFsoN, JoHANNA GUsTArsoN. 

